tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8145493482839207812024-02-21T07:48:50.610-05:00Patient Loving CareSupporting Caregivers. Empowering Patients. Benefiting Doctors. Practical ways to actively participate in your own physical, spiritual and emotional well being. Includes free downloadable worksheets and links to patient care tutorials, news and personal stories about navigating the medical maze through a chronic or serious illness.Elaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-83994809561270173692012-04-15T21:59:00.000-04:002012-04-15T21:59:58.746-04:00On the Topic of Success Against Odds
"Inspiration is for amateurs.
The rest of us just show up and get to work.
Every great idea I've ever had grew out of work itself."
-Chuck Close, CBS News commentary
(Photo: http://www.jaimetreadwell.com/2-D-self-portrait-grid.htm)Elaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-1919488869140262472012-03-30T22:39:00.000-04:002012-03-30T22:39:00.753-04:00Right Back At Ya
I was shocked to bring up a website the other day and see my very own face staring back at me. I instantly grabbed my cell phone to text my son, because there was his face was right next to mine on the screen.
You may remember that two years ago, our family found ourselves in a situation where we needed to ask for some help. Thanks to the Modest Needs Foundation, we received it and my son was Elaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-38827753352474412772012-03-13T21:53:00.000-04:002012-03-13T21:53:03.569-04:00“Excuse Me, How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall?”
Blog inspiration grabs me in the funniest places.
At the symphony, for example.
Like many a musical child, I remember being taught that Ludwig van Beethoven had become completely deaf by the time he composed his most magnificent symphonies. He never heard so much as a single note of his most famous pieces.
So why did I get goosebumps as I sat next to my own musical daughter and heard the Elaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-22459696875460144862012-02-19T12:44:00.000-05:002012-02-19T12:44:19.934-05:00Joyfully Riding the Downside of the Bell CurveWhen I’m not writing about how to improve face time with your doctor, I’ll often focus on avoiding becoming a patient in the first place. It occurred to me this morning that it’s actually been awhile since our family has been in the throes of medical treatment.
Our own journey began a dozen years ago at just about this time of year, and I can pinpoint the moment exactly -- when a song broke the Elaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-90464027228640827422012-01-28T13:38:00.004-05:002012-02-01T20:11:35.367-05:00Jealous When Other People Walk My Dog Early morning dog walking duty goes to my husband. But come dinnertime, I’m grateful to have a pooch who gives purpose to taking a stroll around the neighborhood. That puppy dog who needs a walk when I really don’t feel so motivated to get my body moving is probably adding years to my life. You’ll understand then why I get pouty when Dear Husband or one of the kids announces Elaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-83968778691669096932012-01-06T20:41:00.000-05:002012-01-06T20:41:30.009-05:00The PLC Doctor's Memo: New & ImprovedWe hope you've had a chance to try out our free download, the Patient Loving Care Doctor's Memo. Our toolkit guides you through collecting your thoughts, noting down important information and questions for your next visit, and then presenting your thoughts to the doctor articulately and succinctly once you get into the exam room. In today's time-crunched world, it's critically important that yourElaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-78033859144778602392011-12-26T13:20:00.000-05:002011-12-26T13:20:34.504-05:00Happy Holidays from Patient Loving CareElaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-52875601394900026392011-11-27T19:36:00.005-05:002012-01-06T20:50:58.083-05:00Now, Here’s One For YouLast time, we suggested a question for your doc - “what happens next?” – as a way to really get to the nuts and bolts of what you need to know about your diagnosis. Today we’ve got a great pop quiz for you, the patient.
“What do you think is going on?"
I was at the doctor’s office recently because my teen had fainted on the job. The doctor (actually it was a third year medical student) tossed Elaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-19412069846950089242011-11-11T23:40:00.001-05:002011-11-11T23:41:53.098-05:00If Nothing Else, Ask…“What happens next?”
If there’s one question that will really get to the heart of what’s going on with your health, that’s the one to ask your doctor. It’s a great way to clarify information if your doctor just delivered less than good news and your head is spinning.
If you feel that you understand the big picture, asking “what happens next?” will break down a diagnosis into smaller steps. It Elaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-57229579726585218572011-10-23T21:04:00.000-04:002011-10-23T21:04:59.714-04:00Being An Expert Outside Your Field of ExpertiseEveryone within arm’s reach of a keyboard has felt the need to pen a tribute to Steve Jobs. And I had no intention of joining the homage-fest to the Apple co-founder, though I’m fascinated by his creative mind and visionary success. Then a paragraph in Rolling Stone magazine’s tribute jumped off the page:
As his illness worsened, Jobs found his life narrow even further. He didn’t go out at Elaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-67402922720204811762011-10-11T22:37:00.002-04:002011-10-11T22:40:07.457-04:00A Spunky Guy In Richmond I'd Like To MeetAs I write, the five-hour drive to Virginia would land me four hours too late to meet Bob Wendell. A shame, because he’s 92 and a classical bass player-turned harmonica recording artist. Plus he’s the compelling example on a panel discussion this evening about today’s fragmented healthcare system - a system that could debilitate or even kill a senior who isn't savvy enough to keep Elaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-23874573366018309942011-10-04T19:52:00.000-04:002011-10-04T19:52:06.797-04:00Newsy TuesdayWelcome to Newsy Tuesday. Pour yourself a cuppa whatever you'd like and pick from amongst this collection of good reads. It's like a mini gym visit for your mind - refreshing!
Autistic and Seeking a Place in the Adult World
Here's an expertly written story from the New York Times, told from the perspective of a New Jersey boy. Tender without being maudlin.
The Creative Brain on Exercise
I Elaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-64984829597242432282011-09-25T19:40:00.002-04:002011-09-25T20:15:28.491-04:00Show Me Your Fridge, I Dare You ;pAt a fashion shoot, photographers will occasionally step away from their professional cameras to take a cheap snapshot. It gives a quick, fresh perspective and it’s an easy way to spot adjustments to lighting, background and pose in order to get that perfect shot.
So, what if you used the same technique with your life: snapshots to get a fresh perspective? I dare you – right now- to go and snap Elaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-19574196544562665082011-08-14T17:13:00.002-04:002011-08-18T17:55:18.898-04:00The Brakes On the WheelchairLast month, I felt quite clever but at the same time irritated that by the third visit to the hospital we were able to navigate the long walk from the front lobby to ICU without a map. After all, I didn’t sign up for this stint of several visits a day. It was involuntary enlistment.
Nevertheless, in such circumstances you learn the ropes and develop a routine. Being a quick study conservedElaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-70606506460081950752011-07-06T18:55:00.002-04:002011-07-07T16:46:40.802-04:00The Empty BlogThere's no need to write up a post today.
Just click here for a must-read inspiring story.
When you're done, you'll suddenly feel the strength to move mountains.
(Image via Facebook. Painting by Margaret Stineman.)Elaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-47376585598589768392011-06-23T21:51:00.069-04:002011-06-24T09:23:04.751-04:00Lace Up That Trusty Pair of ChucksA trip to Ohio last week meant a rare chance to see my BFF and blogging partner Diane “in real life” as we say online. It was great to spend some time with her family! Two of the many fantastic things about the Buckeye State are her husband Dave’s grilling skills (he used to do it professionally – working his way through college) and that pitcher of margaritas that is was in Diane’s fridge.
I Elaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-29973315460794078502011-06-05T21:18:00.002-04:002011-06-05T21:33:08.149-04:00If I Told You To, Would You Believe In Yourself?Today we dust off our soapbox on the topic of education. If you are caregiver to a child, you know the unquestionable importance of learning success despite medical obstacles.
What prompted this post was an opinion piece in the Philadelphia Inquirer with the attention-grabbing headline “Self-esteem exercise boosts minority teen achievement.” Despite my initial suspicions, it was not at all a Elaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-61783227479718335702011-05-28T15:49:00.000-04:002011-05-28T15:49:01.566-04:00The Truth? You Can't Handle the Truth!I’ve come across a rash of examples lately involving people who've felt misled in conversations with their doctor. We’re not talking egregious medical malpractice here. But the choice of words in the course of discussing treatment left the patient feeling let down as things played out.
The first example came from a newspaper column that addressed this very issue from a doctor’s perspective. TheElaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-72377440375478767152011-05-21T21:39:00.007-04:002011-06-04T00:58:53.671-04:00Round 2: The FamilyWell, my job is totally consuming, my husband is working full time, we have a daughter living at college and a seventeen year old son that is finishing up his senior year and getting ready to begin college. There are all the end of year activities of his senior year and just trying to keep up with life. Anyone who has gone through the experience of your child graduating high school and going awayDiane Minorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10804281950515160569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-35298785127557370082011-05-08T00:01:00.002-04:002011-05-08T09:25:20.782-04:00Reverent and Irreverent Mother’s Day Prayers, Equally SincereSome time ago, when a friend was expecting her first child, I came across a beautiful prayer online. I formatted it with a picture, framed it, and proceeded to make everyone at her baby shower cry. I’ve given it to every pregnant friend ever since. (What I don’t know is who wrote it. If you’ve got any information, please let me know.)
What a perfect thing to post on Mother's Day.
Then last weekElaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-14273608419879799392011-05-04T22:35:00.003-04:002011-05-04T22:50:13.935-04:00The Pleasure of Your Company Is Requested... A fellow blogger, Carolyn, recently wondered aloud why so many people visit her blog, yet so few comment.
“…to me visiting a person's blog is like visiting their home. You always acknowledge the person for allowing you into their home and you should thank them for taking the time to host you. If you are really into the social do's and don'ts, you even try to bring a small gift to show your Elaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-15499640391453679622011-04-12T20:54:00.001-04:002011-04-12T20:58:11.049-04:00Expense of Learning- Part IIIn the last post, I gave a quick tutorial on the process I use to decide whether it’s wise to part with my money when it comes to healthcare advice for sale. Now it’s time to dig into the details. Whether it’s a book, a classroom or online course, a members-only website, or a coach or counselor you’re considering hiring, there’s a lot you can do that amounts to a literary background check. It’s Elaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-88814141026707656232011-03-25T18:44:00.002-04:002011-04-12T20:57:39.931-04:00The Expense of Learning (Part I)When serious illness hit my child, I was desperate for knowledge. Thank goodness there was a lot of free advice to be had on the internet and (critically important) I had an understanding of how to evaluate the source and credibility of what I was reading. Even still, Googling for information is time-consuming and piecemeal. And there are bonafide experts on every condition imaginable who gladly Elaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-87171655835237713032011-03-13T22:24:00.000-04:002011-03-13T22:24:50.919-04:00Marriage: It's Really HardMy husband and I recently sat together over a glass of wine and took stock – we’re rounding third and headed for home on the mortgage; we’re proud parents of one successful college student and his younger sisters, all of whom dream big, just like we taught ‘em; we’ve both managed to stay gainfully employed through this Great Recession. Then we chuckled at how we’ve lived a wonderful life togetherElaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-814549348283920781.post-4670081008349206742011-03-03T18:22:00.002-05:002011-03-13T22:29:50.136-04:00Needle & ThreadAre you crafty? I have this weird compulsion to sew even though the result is rarely anything that’s publicly wearable. For all my efforts, it never fails that my garment “looks a little home-sewn” as they say on Project Runway.
But that doesn’t stop me from envying those who can work magic with fabric – I just counted up and I have 133 sewing blogs bookmarked! If you find sewing or needlework Elaine Finnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03545674040065846572noreply@blogger.com0